Assad: Syria will defeat revolt at "any price"

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday vowed to defeat at "any price" the rebellion after the death of hundreds of people in a massive military operation in a suburb of Damascus.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday vowed to defeat at "any price" the rebellion after the death of hundreds of people in a massive military operation in a suburb of Damascus. "The Syrian people will not allow the foreign conspiracy to succeed" and defeat it "at any price," said the Syrian leader, while receiving Alaeddine Boroujerdi, a senior Iranian MP, according to the official SANA news agency.

It was the first time that the media reported statements by Mr. Assad since a Syrian official stated Tuesday for the first time the opportunity to discuss the departure of the Syrian president in negotiations with the opposition.

Assad comments coincided with the announcement by the Syrian opposition of discovery of at least 320 bodies in the predominantly Sunni town of Daraya, seven miles south of Damascus, where the army launched five days ago a massive operation.

Most of the bodies, some of which were summarily executed, were found Saturday, according to the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights (SOHR) has reported that according to a provisional count 15 women and 14 children were among the victims.

According to eyewitnesses, the regime forces "imposed a blockade, cut off supplies to Daraya then bombed it indiscriminately with aircraft and heavy weapons. Pro-regime gangs called Shabiha led the summary executions. "

On Sunday, at least 91 people were killed in bombings and fighting between army and rebel soldiers across the country, including 61 civilians, 13 rebels and 17 soldiers, according to the SOHR.